The discussion of heterosexism and homophobia in student residences continued with speculation that there may be a higher level of homophobia at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s dorms because they are primarily occupied by students from rural parts of the province. In rural Newfoundland & Labrador, attitudes towards LGBT are described as negative, conservative, and homophobic. Unless students from rural parts of the province are educated about heterosexism and homophobia, & exposed to sexual diversity, it is likely that their attitudes will remain intolerant.
Gender was also discussed as a factor determining whether students are homophobic. It was suggested that homophobia is more likely to occur in sex-segregated residences, where it seems to be most prevalent among groups of young males. Homophobia is used among groups of men as a masculinity check. Occupants of male residences disparage coed dorms with such comments as "only fags live on co-ed floors". A forum participant describes how he witnessed a male-to-female transsexual being harassed to such a degree on a mainland campus that she was forced to drop out after one semester. Volunteers with LBGT-MUN have experienced such harassment in posting their material in residences that few have the courage to return. They are typically laughed at &, if male, called "fags".
The pressures of being a student are great - imagine adding hatred to the pressures of financial & academic survival. To be LGBT on a heterosexist/ homophobic campus would probably necessitate, for many, keeping your identity a secret. The threat of encountering homophobia, which ranges from social ostracism to verbal & physical violence, forces many LGBT students to stay invisible, to be isolated, and to be made to feel ashamed of their identities. Homophobia and heterosexism create such an alienating & hostile learning environment that the pressure for some LGBT students becomes too overwhelming. As a Forum participant states, "My own experience at university was not a good one. With the pressure of being closeted in this environment, I had a lot of problems coping with it and dropped out".